Hi everyone! I've got it! FINALLY! After an unbearable waiting, daily e-mailbox checkings, noting with sadness that TANKART was still stuck in Los Angeles since Frebruary 7th 2013 (we are on the 13th), it's without conviction that I opened my mailbox today. Mistake, providence always knocks when you're expecting it the least. The package was showing Rinaldi Studio and I hushed up a happy and relieved shout (come on, shouting in public is something one cannot do).

I am very happy to have this book between my hands. The first reason is that I love this medium. A book is touchable. The sound of the turning pages is unique, as is the quality of the paper. You move on reading, or go back to select the information you miss. I am happy to read that Michael is also very happy to publish his work in a book:

"A book can be easily handled, referred to quickly, studied intently, kept handy on the bench or desk, and so forth." Handy... That's exactly how this book is going to be kept.

Michael Rinaldi starts his book with an exhaustive point of view on all the materials available for us. I must say this is welcome, since, despite being automatic after some years of practice (or months), we tend to forget good manners. But that's not all, Rinaldi tells us about the products he uses and how to use them. This introductory phase has a predominant role in the general comprehension of his work.

Don't be mistaken, this is not a how-to book... Well, not only... This is a "how-to" and "why" book and it really feels like Michael is right behind you, talking to you and explaining each step of his work, not only saying how you should do, but why you should do this or that.

What I like in this book is principaly the fact that Michael Rinaldi takes care of his reader. It's priceless. Each word is thought (the writing is nice and full of humor) and... it's a first... You can feel the author's style. It's exactly what creates the "why" by the way. Picking a page randomly, here is what I can read "Work your way around the entire model in this manner. Lay down one even coat. It is best to cover all of it, rather than risk not having some where you need it. [...] Then repeat the process for a second layer, and yes, once dry you can paint straight away." The presence of the author is palpable, the care he takes to be as clear, as close to the reader as possible it strongly felt. It's really enjoyable.

I also very much like the idea of drawing circles around the areas to look at on the pictures. This is often done on forums (mostly to show mistakes), but here, it has its advantage. Rinaldi forces (rather invites) us to watch intently particular points, and the presence of these orange inserts automatically draws our attention on the in-process points. This is graphically clever!

Let's talk about design now! The page setting is flawless, regular and thus coherent. This might sound futile, but the book is rich with text and can't allow itself to be messy. Not only is it not messy, but it also provides a great comfort in reading.

The photographs are, of course, the strong point of this book. They are clean and neat and most of all, the steps are pleasant to follow and relevant.

I've had the opportunity to follow Michael Rinaldi's streaks of bad luck on his Facebook page, and he really made everything to fill the reader's satisfaction with this book. He couldn't say this better, but this is a euphemism. I'm extremely pleased by the work accomplished by an accomplished "artist" "modeler" (his introduction deals with the matter). He also took time to answer my e-mails and I discovered someone kind in his relationships with the readers, careful and you really feel this in the book he signed for me. Bravo, Michael! I'm now waiting for the next volumes with impatience. For now, I'm going to dive back into this book because there's a lot to read, to learn, to understand and to admire...